Floyd Rose #1 Saddle?

[tooslowhand]

Hi everyone,
I am fixing to replace the saddle on the 1st string of my Carvin. I am having a problem with repeatedly breaking strings and I am hoping this will help.

My question is this, I bought a saddle on eBay that was termed as a "#1" saddle and in fact has a "1" stamped into the back. All the eBay auctions I saw indicated that this was the correct saddle to use for both "E" strings (1st and 6th).

However, I have seen some information since then that indicates a #2 saddle is what I should really have. The eBay sellers seemed to be dealers who sold a lot of parts and (I would have assumed) knew their stuff but one of the sources which confirmed #2 was the Floyd Rose site so I find it hard to discount that.

Does anyone have any ideas?
Thanks!

[Grandturk]

The E saddles are #2. No ifs ands or butts. Never trust anyone who's selling you something.

[tooslowhand]

Well, that sucks. It made sense to me too thinking that #1 would be the lowest and that the two outermost strings would have the lowest saddles. I guess the project will have to wait until next weekend but at least I'll have an extra saddle for my parts drawer!
Thanks for the info!

[tooslowhand]

Looking at it again, it looks like Floyd Rose lists their saddles in terms of 0,1,2 with 0 being the highest for the middle strings. All the eBay sellers list them in terms of 1,2,3 with 3 being the highest. Maybe it's just a difference in terminology. I guess I can try to match them up visually when I get home.

[Grandturk]

Maybe it's just a difference in terminology. I guess I can try to match them up visually when I get home.

Yeah its a difference alright - the manufacturer's right and the seller's an idiot.

[tooslowhand]

hahahaha... I bet it's something along those lines. They all seem to use that 1-2-3 scale though. Do you figure I'd be able to tell the difference matching them by eye?

[Grandturk]

If you place them all on a flat surface, yes. They are clearly different sizes.

[tooslowhand]

OK, cool! Thanks so much again for the info. I only get a couple chances during the week to get this done so I want to make sure I know where I am going.

[toejam]

You can always shim one to get it to your desired height. They sell metal Floyd saddle shims, or you could always use a piece of thin copper tape or whatever. Charvel seemed to like the copper tape idea, as I'd found some of that under the saddles on my '05 Star.

[Grandturk]

Good point, TJ. Shims would work fine as well.

You know, I was thinking about the radius issue at the bridge - to shim the outside saddles or not - you remember those heated debates.

Since the object is to get flatter at the bridge - why not just use all the same saddle? Would that be too flat?

[toejam]

You could use all the same saddle with a flatter board radius. The Floyds were made originally for Strats that have rounder boards, so I guess they just kept the standard 10" radius all these years.

[tooslowhand]

Thanks for the help guys. I contacted my seller too and he said that these saddles are from a "licensed" unit and they use a different numbering system. I guess I'll just have to keep my fingers crossed!

[Grandturk]

from a "licensed" unit and they use a different numbering system. I guess I'll just have to keep my fingers crossed!

Fuck that - send that shit back, forthwith. Accept no substitute.

[tooslowhand]

I should in principle but I am lazy as hell and if this saddle keeps strings on my guitar even for the next year or so I will consider it $8 well spent!

[84sups]

Is it on the high or low E string. If it's on the high swap it to the low. Also they are numbered on the bottom of the saddle.